The U.S. Census and the Amazing Apportionment Machine

Apportionment is the process of dividing the seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states based on the population figures collected during the decennial census. The number of seats in the House has grown with the country. Congress sets the number in law and increased the number to 435 in 1913. The Constitution set the number of representatives at 65 from 1787 until the first Census of 1790, when the it was increased to 105 members.

But how does apportionment actually work? Through animation, the U.S. Census Bureau helps explain how the apportionment formula is used to ensure equal representation for all, just like the Founding Fathers planned.

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  News & Politics

[y11971alex]

Yes, but to keep congressional representation to a reasonable size, the smaller states, which other wise would receive fractional number of congressmen, would need at least one congressmen as you can't have 5/6 of a congressmen representing Wyoming.

[NerdyLiberal]

Don't be stupid. In our current system, people in large states get much, MUCH less representation than small states. Per capita in the house is about the same, but in the senate? Why the fuck should a state 1/50th the size of California get the same number of senators? There is more diversity of opinion within the bay area than there is in all of Wyoming...

[mastermenthe]

THIS VIDEO EXPLAINS NOTHING

[thefurminatorreview]

no it does not need to be this complicated!

[catscatscatz]

Fuck....no. California and New York are chronically under represented. Small states usually get far less people per representative. We should add several hundred seats to the house and california, new york, new jersey would get dozens of more seats that we deserve

[tzimisces1]

........ they are? what are you talking about?

[why435org]

Does it really need to be this complicated? why435.org has the answer.

[Deisongp]

interesting..but, wouldnt it be better, and easier, elect the representatives by popular vote?

[dnissen2012]

If you look at an unmodified version of the formula, and rank solely on people per representative, California should get less, as well as Texas and New York. Montana, South Dakota, and Delaware should all get 2.

But nooooooooo...it has to be some complicated formula that has massive bias to larger states,

[dnissen2012]

Look at Project 30,000. I don't have a website, but it is a project that limits the people per representative to 60,000.